Dollar - Joseph Lesher Colorado; Mining Scene

Reverse

Three-quarter circle around top

Script: Latin

Lettering: Jos. Leshers • Referendum• Silver• Souvenir Medal; State Seal device separates Price and $1.00.; to left of device, U.S. / Patent, and to right, No. / 62,695; in six lines below, Trade Mark Reg. U.S. Pat. Off. / No. 36,192. Apr. 9, 1901. / Design Pat. Apr. 16, 1901. / M'f'd / Victor Colo / • 1901•

Comment

1901 $1 Lesher Dollar, Geo. Mullen, Serial #, HK-795, Z-9, R.6, Joseph Lesher, a Colorado silver camp worker for 20 years, was an advocate of free silver coinage in the late 19th century. He began issuing a set of "Referendum Souvenirs" in his home town of Victor, Colorado in November of 1900. The large octagonal pieces were used by merchants in several Colorado cities, although relatively few specimens were actually redeemed. This Choice AU Imprint Type HK-795 includes the serial number 1542 and the name of Geo. Mullen. A new book on the Lesher dollars, by Robert Leonard, Ken Hallenbeck, and Adna Wilde, was released in July (2017) and has additional information about George McMullen, writing: "An uneducated drifter, the high point of his entire life was in 1901 when he beheld fifty shining silver Referendum Dollars, with his name (though mis-spelled) stamped on them. His life went downhill from then, and he died a pauper." He was 90 years old when he passed away in January 1948 at the San Bernardino County Old Man's Home.